The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1887-03-16


ont that which 1t does not possess. But
1t there be one hundred dollars there to
my credit, then the check ia worth that
amount. Aud IL there be only Atty dol
lars there the check 10 worth only this
amount. although it may be drawn for one
hundred dollars. Its value depends upon
the worth of him who giyesit, as measured
BY some universally acknowledged stand.
ard. and also upon bis honesty and will
ingness to redeem his promises.
Now gold does possess an intrinsic
value. Whether made into jewelry, or
into bricks for the mint, or coined into
money, the same amount has the same
value, whether in China. Egypt or New
Jersey. A greenback has not. Cut a
gold eagle into halves. and each half is
worth i've dollars. Throw It into the
melting pot; take 1t out au unshapely
mass, and il Is still worth ten dollars.
Cut ten.dollar greeuback through the
middle, and Is either half worth five dol
lars? Pass certain amount of gold
through the mint and 1t comes forth
coined lone dollar" Could the same
amount have come forth coined "ten dol
lars % Not at all. II requires just ten
times as much gold for ten dollars. Why
Because gold Is the standard AMT BY
which all other values are measured and
regulated. It possesses value in itself,
which gives 1t power to command other
objects In exchange. A greenback does
not; there Ia power beyond the green
back which gives It value, otherwise every
person might as well make his own green.
backs.
The government issues greenbacks to
the amount of 100000, 900. There is
likewise the same amount Of gold in the
U. s. Treasury. Now every greenback
is worth Its face value II the government
keep It's pledge of promise to pay"
whenever the holder wishes to have his
greenbacks redeemed. A greenback dollar
win bring gold dollar. But suppose the
government issue 5000, 1000, 600 10 green
backs, without increasing the amount Of
gold. Then every greenback dollar is
worth only fffy cents. And the greater
the amount Of greenbacks, the gold re-
naming the same. the less will be their
! .-sas value, whatever may be their face
value.
/ To issue an unlimited amount Of paper
currency for distribution among the peo-
pie on the theory that this would make
them rich, Is most stupid piecs Of folly.
1t Is the very reverse Of the truth. The
simple illustrations already given, show
the utter fallacy Of the greenback adyo-
Gates. You cannot make silk purse out
of sow's ear, nor get fur from toad; 80
neither can government make Its people
rich by limitation, II II does not possess
the ability to redeem its pledges.
The Press.--This has become power
full institution throughout the world. Its
products reach more minds and influence
more miuds than, perhaps, any other form
of literature. The Press is the peoples
library, their educator and guide. The
Bible and the Journal--secular and rell-
gious-are the only books of thousands Of
households, and IN many the journal SUI.
persedea the Bible.
The Press ought to be the advocate OF
all that 10 good. The secular press the
world over 10 lamentably deficient here.
The American Press Is conspicuously so.
Much OF the scepticism and infidelity,
much of our social moral and political
corruption, Is traceable to the secular
paper. Freedom OF the Press 10 over
reaching itself and degenerating into the
widest license. There Is need of some
kind Of official censorship. Into the sacred
precincts Of domestic life 1t has no right
to 60. Its moral character, and its moral
influence, should always be on the side OF
good morals, and OF true progress.
But when we look over the secular
press Of this country, aud see that out Of
the thousands Of papers published, and
some hundreds of them quite prominent,
there are less than half dozen first class
newspapers, 1t Is astonishing. Yea, Il
makes our blood run cold. when We see
the kind Of mental pabulum which they
furnish, and which is 50 greedily devoured
BY the people. Murders, hangings, scam
dals, vileness ad nauseam, fill the pages,
and are eagerly sought for by most OF the
readers. Think Of men and women,
young and old, gloating over such horrors
and such filth Yea, even delighting In
reading 1t.
| Some Of the dailies will scent scandal
farther than vulture will carrion; and
they do II, just because their readers want
that kind Of stuff. The paper will sell,
hsncs there Is moneyin II. Some editors
have no conscience, and feel no moral re-
sponsibility, hence win pander to the
basest appetites.
The moral tone and character OF the
press, 10 q fair indication Of the moral
tone, character and culture OF the reading
public. Since then, the great mass Of
secular papers, and especially the dailies.
10 Of such low order, what fearfnlly
lamentabIy low mental and moral condi-
ton Of the people does II argue but little
better than q cess. pool.
The New York press, without doubt.
stands At the head, and close behind.
comes Chicago. The press Of no other
city has reached such high water mark.
But this does not mean that all the papers
and periodicals published in New York
are first- class. Far from it. or the secu-
lar papers, the clsanest, most moral and
Trustworthy. j., undoubtedly, the NsW
| Yort Tribune. Nss The leading asvspapsr